2018 49th Annual World Series of Poker

Event #49: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed Championship

EVENT UPDATES

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 8:12 PM Local Time

Loren Klein Makes it Three in a Row; Wins the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship for $1,018,336!

The 2018 World Series of Poker has crowned yet another champion and it was a familiar face that lifted the coveted gold bracelet when the final river card was dealt in Event #49: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship. It was Loren Klein who defeated three-time WSOP bracelet winner Rep Porter in heads-up to win his third bracelet in as many years and clinch the top prize of $1,018,336.

Klein's first victory came two years ago in Event #45: $1,500 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha and he followed that up with his second WSOP bracelet in 2017, taking down Event #41: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha. Klein also finished runner-up to Brandon Shack-Harris in this very event back in 2016 when both were in the exact same seats, two and four. Shack-Harris came into the extra day as the chip leader and eventually had to settle for third place, good enough for a payday of $433,259.

While playing, Klein was sporting the "Make America Great Again" hat and also kept it on for the winner shots.

"I can't take it off now, the hat got me here. And there are a lot of haters out there that need this picture, just check out my Twitter feed today," Klein added just before holding up the gold bracelet.

"There are a lot of haters, I can't wait. Watch my twitter feed, it was non-stop today!"

One railbird said: "They don't realize you're being ironic."

"Am I?" Klein replied, "This might get me a Whitehouse invitation."

During the winner interview, Klein didn't deny the fact that this spurred further motivation to win it.

"All the haters really helped me to bring this one home. It felt amazing, and I can't wait to talk to all of them when I see them in the Rio hallways, I might even wear the bracelet for a bit. People have been talking shit about the MAGA hat for days and wishing me bad things all day today, it is fantastic."

When asked about what the accomplishment of winning a bracelet for consecutive years means to him, Klein had the following to say.

"Not a ton, the variance in getting a bracelet is pretty wild. I was the same player I was three years ago before I had any bracelet, so it doesn't mean a whole lot. But it is certainly a good time."

All three of Klein's bracelets came in Pot-Limit Omaha, cementing his foothold in this game type. Whether or not that makes him the best PLO player in the world remains to be seen, though.

"Perhaps, but you never know the way tournaments go. There are a lot of guys that make good runs all the time, so I am probably right there with them."

Among those is eventual third-place finisher Brandon Shack-Harris, who Klein considered a very tough opponent. Early on Klein won a big pot off Shack-Harris to take over the lead, where he remained for most of the remaining final table.

"That took him [Shak-Harris] out of a pretty commanding position and it was an important pot for sure, and I was pretty selective about which one I was gonna do because I knew the first pot I was gonna play with him would be a big deal and change the dynamics. Got lucky and flopped it."

Klein's other two bracelets came in $1,500 events, and the Championship event only changed one particular thing: "Seven figures!" Klein doesn't have any immediate plans with the big payday for now, and another PLO bracelet is on the agenda for the upcoming year to make it four in a row.

With a total of 476 entries, the event created a prize pool of $4,474,400 and the top 72 spots were paid. Five out of the six hopefuls on the final day were former bracelet winners and Jerry Wong, who eventually finished in 4th place for $303,491, is a former WSOP Main Event finalist.

Third Bracelet for Loren Klein in as Many Years

Final Result

Position

Player

Country

Prize

1

Loren Klein

United States

$1,018,336

2

Rep Porter

United States

$629,378

3

Brandon Shack-Harris

United States

$433,259

4

Jerry Wong

United States

$303,491

5

Ryan Hughes

United States

$216,391

6

Scott Bohlman

United States

$157,097

7

Mike Leah

Canada

$116,166

8

Alexey Makarov

Russia

$87,522

Action of the final day

Brandon Shack-Harris was leading the final six on the Twitch live stream table in the Brasilia room and quickly pulled further ahead before Loren Klein took over the control at the top of the counts. While several players got short and even ended up all-in and at risk, it took more than two full hours before the field of hopefuls was reduced further.

Scott Bohlman had almost all of his chips in before the flop and called Klein's shove on an eight-trey-trey flop. Bohlman had an eight, while Klein needed a live king or running outs and hit the latter to make a straight, leaving Bohlman to depart in sixth place.

Next to fall was Ryan Hughes, and once again it was Klein responsible for the bustout. The chips went in preflop and Hughes showed aces, Klein only had jacks but spiked the two-outer on the flop.

Jerry Wong, the sole remaining finalist of the last six without a bracelet, almost took over the lead four-handed before becoming short. Eventually, Wong had half of his stack in before the flop and jammed a six-high flop only to see Shack-Harris snap-call with the flopped straight.

Three-handed play started with Rep Porter and Klein in a commanding lead, while Shack-Harris fell back further. The two-time bracelet winner fought back and got it in with an ace-queen high. Porter snap-called with aces and ended up making the better two pair on a paired board to eliminate Shack-Harris in third place.

Klein started heads-up with a comfortable lead, though Porter got within four big blinds. Facing a 1-2 chip disadvantage only a few hands later, Porter got all of his chips in preflop with kings and Klein looked him up with aces. Klein covered Porter's only live suit and the latter couldn't pull off the upset.

That brings an end to the PokerNews live reporting for this event, but make sure to check back regularly for the continued updates of the 2018 World Series of Poker.

Loren Klein opened the button with a raise to 1,000,000. Big blind Rep Porter three-bet to 3 million with 4,275,0000 behind. Klein potted and Porter called all in for 7,275,000 total.

Rep Porter:
Loren Klein:

"I even have his suit," Klein said to one of his supporters on the rail.

The dealer didn't make a big show out of dealing the board as was presented rapidly.

Porter and Klein shook hands before the former made his way to the payout desk. Klein sat down for the winner photo and said "The hat got me here, I can't take it off now," after someone on the rail commented on it.

"There are a lot of haters, I can't wait. Watch my twitter feed, it was non-stop today!"

One railbird said; "They don't realize you're being ironic."

"Am I?" Klein replied, "This might get me a Whitehouse invitation."

"My annual bracelet," Klein said on his way to the payout desk after the photos were taken.

Loren Klein

23,800,000

8,800,000

Rep Porter

0

-8,800,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 7:08 PM Local Time

The Pots Are Getting Bigger

Loren Klein raised to 1,000,000 and Rep Porter called. On the flop, Porter check-called a bet worth 1,200,000 and the appeared on the turn. Porter bet 2,400,000 and Klein folded. That pot brought the duo within fewer than four big blinds, however Klein struck back with aggression right after.

Porter raised to 800,000 and Klein three-bet the pot to 2,400,000, Porter called. On the flop, Klein bet the pot for 4,800,000 and Porter folded.

Klein limped and Porter checked. On the flop both players checked, Klein bet the turn for 700,000 and Porter folded.

Porter raised to 800,000 and Klein called. The flop triggered a check by Klein, Porter bet 600,000 and Klein called. The turn was checked through and Klein's bet on the river for 1,500,000 won the pot uncontested.

Klein limped and Porter checked, they headed to a flop. Porter checked and folded to a bet of 400,000 by Klein.

Loren Klein

17,525,000

2,600,000

Rep Porter

6,275,000

-2,600,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 6:45 PM Local Time

Brandon Shack-Harris Eliminated in 3rd Place ($433,259)

Brandon Shack-Harris was first to act and opened the action with a raise to 800,000. Small blind Loren Klein folded instantly but big blind Rep Porter had bigger plans. He three-bet to 2.6 million and Shack-Harris, after giving it some thought, shoved for 3,880,000 total. Porter called.

Brandon Shack-Harris:
Rep Porter:

The rail asked for the in the window but instead got the , followed by the and .

Shack-Harris had paired up but needed more help. The on the turn was one of the worst cards in the deck for him. The rail asked for an "eight-ball" but didn't get it; on the river.

Shack-Harris eliminated in third place for $433,259. Loren Klein and Rep Porter are now guaranteed $629,378, playing for the first-place prize of $1,018,336.

Loren Klein

14,925,000

-175,000

Rep Porter

8,875,000

4,050,000

Brandon Shack-Harris

0

-3,875,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 6:38 PM Local Time

Shack-Harris Lets Go

Brandon Shack-Harris raised to 800,000 on the button and Rep Porter in the big blind three-bet the pot to 2,600,000, Shack-Harris folded.

Loren Klein raised the button to 800,000 and Shack-Harris three-bet the pot to 2,600,000 from the big blind to force a fold.

Shack-Harris limped and Klein checked. They checked the flop and the turn. On the river, Shack-Harris bet 500,000 and Klein's raise to 1,400,000 did the trick to force a fold from Shack-Harris.

Loren Klein

15,100,000

-100,000

Rep Porter

4,825,000

825,000

Brandon Shack-Harris

3,875,000

-725,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 6:24 PM Local Time

Klein Getting Richer

Rep Porter opened the button for 800,000 and big blind Loren Klein called. Klein check-called 900,000 on the flop and 1.6 million on the turn. The river saw both players check and Klein took it down showing as Porter mucked.

Loren Klein

15,200,000

3,475,000

Brandon Shack-Harris

4,600,000

-175,000

Rep Porter

4,000,000

-3,300,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 6:18 PM Local Time

Level 34 started

Level:

34

Blinds:

200000/400000

Ante:

0

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 6:07 PM Local Time

Klein Wins Last Hand of the Level; Second Break

Loren Klein raised to 700,000 on the button and Brandon Shack-Harris called in the big blind. The flop came and Shack-Harris checked, Klein continued for 950,000 and that forced a fold from Shack-Harris in the last hand of the level.

Right after, the players were sent into the second 15-minute break of the day.

Loren Klein

11,725,000

725,000

Rep Porter

7,300,000

-500,000

Brandon Shack-Harris

4,775,000

-325,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 6:01 PM Local Time

Straight for Klein

Rep Porter opened the button for 800,000 and big blind Loren Klein called. The two checked on and the hit the turn. Klein check-called a bet of 750,000 before the river went check-check.

Klein showed for a straight and Porter mucked.

Loren Klein

11,000,000

1,700,000

Rep Porter

7,800,000

-1,500,000

Brandon Shack-Harris

5,100,000

-100,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 5:55 PM Local Time

Shack-Harris on the Rise

Rep Porter made it 700,000 to go on the button and Brandon Shack-Harris three-bet the pot out of the small blind to 2,400,000 with 700,000 behind. That was enough to force a fold and Shack-Harris pulled some chips back.

Shack-Harris raised to 600,000 from the button the next hand and won the blinds.

Loren Klein limped the button, Porter called from the small blind and Shack-Harris checked. On the flop, action checked to Klein and his bet of 400,000 won the pot.

Shack-Harris limped the small blind next and Klein checked. On the flop, Shack-Harris checked and subsequently check-raised from 300,000 to 1,100,000, and that forced a fold from Klein.

Shack-Harris limped the button, Klein called in the small blind and Porter checked the big blind. On the flop, Klein bet 525,000 and his opponents folded.

The next three-way limped pot brought a flop of . Shack-Harris bet 400,000 in the big blind and claimed the pot uncontested.

Loren Klein

9,300,000

-200,000

Rep Porter

9,300,000

-1,900,000

Brandon Shack-Harris

5,200,000

2,000,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 5:44 PM Local Time

Shack-Harris Loses Two in a Row

Brandon Shack-Harris limped in from the button for 300,000 and big blind Rep Porter bumped the action to 1,050,000. The flop came and Porter bet 1.1 million. Shack-Harris folded right away.

The next hand, Porter limped in from the small blind. Shack-Harris raised to 900,000 from the big blind and Poter called. The two checked down the board of and Porter took it down showing a straight with .

Two pots that didn't get out of control, but still a sizable chunk of chips gone for Shack-Harris.

Rep Porter

11,200,000

1,400,000

Loren Klein

9,500,000

700,000

Brandon Shack-Harris

3,200,000

-2,100,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 5:35 PM Local Time

Jerry Wong Eliminated in 4th Place ($303,491)

Jerry Wong raised to 1,000,000 first to act with 1,200,000 behind and Brandon Shack-Harris in the big blind, who had won the previous hand to narrowly pull ahead of Wong, checked his stack and elected to call.

The flop came and Shack-Harris checked, Wong moved all in and was snap-called.

Jerry Wong:
Brandon Shack-Harris:

Shack-Harris had flopped the straight and Wong needed running hearts to avoid the elimination. It was all over after the turn, making the river a formality, and Wong was eliminated in 4th place for $303,491.

Rep Porter

9,800,000

-500,000

Loren Klein

8,800,000

-100,000

Brandon Shack-Harris

5,300,000

2,800,000

Jerry Wong

0

-2,200,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 5:26 PM Local Time

Porter Doubles Into the Lead

Rep Porter opened the cutoff for 700,000 and big blind Loren Klein called to see a flop.

Klein led out for 900,000 on and Porter called. The hit the turn and Klein bet pot for 3,350,000. Porter tanked for some time before eventually moving in for just 100,000 more. Klein, naturally, called right away.

Rep Porter:
Loren Klein:

The on the river paired the board and Porter doubled into the lead.

Rep Porter

10,300,000

5,200,000

Loren Klein

8,900,000

-5,100,000

Brandon Shack-Harris

2,500,000

-300,000

Jerry Wong

2,200,000

100,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 5:17 PM Local Time

Shack-Harris Misses a Big Draw

Loren Klein raised to 700,000 two hands in a row. In the first hand he found no resistance and in the second hand, Klein's raise from the cutoff was called by Brandon Shack-Harris in the big blind. On the flop, both players checked. The turn paired the board and Shack-Harris checked. Klein bet 600,000 and Shack-Harris gave it a lot of thought before making the call.

On the river, both players checked and Shack-Harris showed his for a missed straight flush draw, Klein won the pot with his .

Loren Klein

14,000,000

1,800,000

Rep Porter

5,100,000

-400,000

Brandon Shack-Harris

2,800,000

-1,300,000

Jerry Wong

2,100,000

0

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 5:07 PM Local Time

Ryan Hughes Eliminated in 5th Place ($216,391)

Action folded to Loren Klein in the small blind and he raised to 900,000. Big blind Ryan Hughes, who had 1,550,000 to start the hand, moved all in. Klein called instantly.

Ryan Hughes:
Loren Klein:

"Jack ball!" one railbird shouted. The flop hit right after.

The on the turn opened up some good river cards for Hughes but the on the river wasn't one of the cards he was looking for.

Hughes finished in fifth place for $261,391. The remaining four players are now guaranteed $303,491.

Loren Klein

12,200,000

1,500,000

Ryan Hughes

0

-1,600,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 5:01 PM Local Time

Level 33 started

Level:

33

Blinds:

150000/300000

Ante:

0

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 5:01 PM Local Time

Klein Takes Big Pot Off Wong

After having defended his big blind against a button raise to 500,000 by Rep Porter, Jerry Wong checked the flop and folded when facing a continuation bet of 500,000 by Porter.

The next hand, Wong limped in and Loren Klein checked. Wong bet the flop for 300,000 and Klein called before the appeared on the turn. Wong checked and called a bet worth 475,000.

On the river, Wong checked once more and Klein bet 950,000. Wong gave it some thought and called, Klein tabled the for a full house and scooped the pot.

Right after, a brief two-minute break for the color up of the T-5,000 chips took place.

Loren Klein

10,700,000

3,000,000

Rep Porter

5,500,000

260,000

Jerry Wong

2,100,000

-2,400,000

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 4:51 PM Local Time

Shack-Harris Doubles

Jerry Wong opened to 600,000 under the gun and big blind Brandon Shack-Harris was the only caller. On the flop of , Shack-Harris bet pot for 1,320,000, the vast majority of his chips. Wong moved in and Shack-Harris called for 1,410,000 total.

Brandon Shack-Harris:
Jerry Wong:

The on the turn and on the river made Shack-Harris a full house and delivered him the double-up.

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